The NSA's new program "Perfect Citizen" aims to protect aging internet-connected systems, such as those at the nuclear power plant seen here. (Source: Tennessee Valley Authority)

Debate continues over whether government is fulfilling its duty to defend or meddling in the private sector

It's
little secret that the U.S. cybersecurity could
use some help. Recent studies have shown the nation's power
grid and armed forces to be highly vulnerable to a cyberattack from
an internet savvy nation like China or Russia. Under President
George W. Bush and President
Barack Obama slow steps have been made to improve that state of
affairs.

But now there's a growing debate over one of the most
ambitious cybersecurity
initiatives yet, a program developed by the National
Security Agency called "Perfect Citizen". The program
is designed to detect, neutralize, and counter cyberattacks on
critical parts of the U.S. private sector -- such as defense
contractors, power plants, and major internet firms like Google.
Its critics, though, contend that it is government meddling and
playing "Big Brother".

Internally,
there's been discord over the government's plans to peer inside
private networks. States a Raytheon email leaked to The
Wall Street Journal,
"The overall purpose of the [program] is our
Government...feel[s] that they need to insure the Public Sector is
doing all they can to secure Infrastructure critical to our National
Security. Perfect Citizen is Big Brother."

While
the NSA had no official comment, unnamed U.S. officials took issue
with the claim that they were playing "Big Brother".
They said the program was vital to protecting the nation and no more
intrusive to privacy than traffic cams over intersections.

At
the core of the issue is the fact that many "mission critical"
systems which drive subway systems, air-traffic control networks, and
more are composed of aging machines which were built at a time when
security was less understood and considered. The NSA believes
that China and Russian may have gained deep access and exploration
into these networks, but it needs to watch them in order to determine
the full extent of the penetration.

One of the U.S.
government's critical roles is to provide for the defense of the
nation. Under the U.S. constitution the government has the
power to "raise and support armies," "provide and
maintain a navy," and to "make rules for the government and
regulation of the land and naval forces".

Initially, the
government began to interface with the private sector -- such
as power utilities -- to solve physical problems; for
example sealing a manhole cover to a power line going to a critical
government center. However, those efforts quickly expanded to
the digital realm.

"Perfect Citizen" sprung from an
earlier surveillance project called "April Strawberry".
The new project is still in its early stages, but NSA officials have
reportedly met with utility executives and politely asked them to
cooperate with the surveillance. Participation is reportedly
voluntary, but those who comply will earn incentives, such as
additional government contracts.

Ultimately it may be too
early to judge the merits of "Perfect Citizen", but as the
program is fleshed out, it seems likely to provoke a lively debate
about the government, privacy, and intervention in the private
sector.

"Mac OS X is like living in a farmhouse in the country with no locks, and Windows is living in a house with bars on the windows in the bad part of town." -- Charlie Miller